It's got a bigger screen and works with Apple Pay. It lacks a battery boost, but it's...

Editors' note:Portions of this review text also appear in our evaluation of the TackForm C-Fit, since that device and the Bracketron Mi-T Grip are almost identical.

They all may look more or less the same, but not all smartphone suction cup mounts are created equal. Some are more flexible, more articulated, or offer a longer reach. Others, like the Bracketron Mi-T Grip, place a heavier emphasis on strength and stability -- when it gets its grip on your phone, it'll take more than a casual bump to knock the handset loose.

The Mi-T Grip has only one point of articulation, at the ball joint where the gripping claw meets the mounting arm. So, care must be taken to properly orient the base when locating the Grip. Additionally, the short, angled mounting arm may place the Mi-T Grip outside of the driver's reach when windshield-mounting on vehicles with steeply raked glass. On the other hand, with only one articulation point and a short arm, the Grip is quite stable, exhibiting none of the shakiness and vibration that longer, more flexible mounts do. However, the Mi-T Grip perhaps performs best when it's not stuck to your windshield.

The suction cup at the base of the Mi-T Grip is made of tacky, semiadhesive material that sticks to most solid surfaces under its own power. This stickiness combined with the suction generated by locking the Mi-T Grip's suction cup in place resulted in a remarkably tenacious grip on whatever surface I mounted it on. This strong grip is a boon for keeping a smartphone secured and stable while driving, but it can also make the mount a tad difficult (but not impossible) to remove between trips. Additionally, the tacky material has a tendency to pick up lint and dirt when stored or transported without a cover, so the Mi-T Grip is probably best left semipermanently in place in your vehicle between trips, rather than repeatedly placed and removed like a conventional suction cup mount.

The suction cup is made of a tacky, semiadhesive material.
Antuan Goodwin/CNET

The tackiness of the Mi-T Grip's suction cup means that it can be attached to leather, leatherette, wood, and that oddly rubberized "soft touch" dashboard material. I particularly enjoy the dashboard-mounting capability, because it allows me to mount the phone low and near the radio controls, where it can be easily reached for destination input or changing songs while the windshield remains unobstructed.

The suction cup holds on to glass as well as most dashboard materials.
Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Where to Buy

Bracketron Mi-T Grip Dash Mount

About The Author

Antuan Goodwin gained most of his automotive knowledge the old fashioned way, by turning wrenches in a driveway and picking up speeding tickets. From drivetrain tech and performance to car audio installs and cabin tech, if it's on wheels, Antuan is knowledgeable. Email Antuan, follow him on Twitter, or like him on Facebook.
Antuan